Disgraced Hollywood actor and convicted felon Jussie Smollett has been transferred to the psychiatric ward in Cook County Jail, his brother is claiming on social media.
Smollett was sentenced to 5 months in jail and hit with heavy fines for staging a fake hate crime attack against himself.
“So Jussie is currently in a psych ward at the Cook County Jail,” his brother Jocqui Smollett said.
“What’s very concerning is that there was a note attached to his paperwork today and put in front of his jail cell saying that he’s at risk of self-harm.
“I want to make it clear to folks that he is in no way, shape, or form at risk of self-harm.
“He wants to let folks know that he is very stable, he is very strong, he is very healthy and ready to take on the challenge that has been put up against him.”
“This is not right. This is a complete lack of justice.
“It’s angering. It’s an outrage, but he ultimately knows what he needs to do.
“So please, make sure you all spreading facts. We really need our people to support us,” Jocqui Smollett said.
The Cook County Sheriff’s office said the felon actor is not being held in solitary confinement because it was ‘abolished’ at the jail but the office did not deny Jussie was in a psychiatric ward.
The office said:
“The use of solitary confinement was abolished at the Cook County Jail in 2016, and any claims that he is being held in this manner is false.
“Mr. Smollett is being housed in his own cell, which is monitored by security cameras in the cell and by an officer wearing a body worn camera who is stationed at the entrance of the cell to ensure that Mr. Smollett is under direct observation at all times.
“As with all detained persons, Mr. Smollett is entitled to have substantial time out of his cell in the common areas on the tier where he is housed, where he is able to use the telephone, watch television, and interact with staff.
“During such times out of cell, other detainees will not be present in the common areas.
“These protocols are routinely used for individuals ordered into protective custody who may potentially be at risk of harm due to the nature of their charges, their profession, or their noteworthy status.
“The safety and security of all detained individuals, including Mr. Smollett, is the Sheriff’s Office’s highest priority,” the office said.
Cook County Judge James Linn said of Smollett at sentencing:
“You have another side of you that is profoundly arrogant and selfish and narcissistic.
“That’s the only thing that can be concluded.
“You turned your life upside down by your misconduct and shenanigans.
“For you to now sit here, convicted of hoaxing hate crimes, racial hate crimes, and homophonic hate crimes, the hypocrisy is just astounding.
“You knew this was a country that was slowing trying to heal past injustices and current injustices and trying to make a better future for each other.
“You took some scabs off some healing wounds, and you ripped them apart for one reason – you wanted to make yourself more famous, and for a while, it worked.
“There’s a side of you that has this arrogance, and selfishness and narcissism that’s just disgraceful.
“You’re not a victim of a racial hate crime, you’re not a victim of a homophobic hate crime,” the judge said.
“You’re just a charlatan pretending to be a victim of a hate crime, and that’s shameful.”
